Stephenson Harwood

Firm overview:

Advising on IP strategy, exploitation and dispute resolution across the full spectrum of IP rights, Stephenson Harwood serves a stellar client base that often require cross-border solutions to their pain points. The firm has a strong presence in the life sciences and healthcare sector—one of its five main areas of focus—working with clients such as GSK, Haleon, Johnson & Johnson Innovation, and BioNTech. Its four other focus areas are the IP-rich sectors of technology; energy transition; transportation and trade; and private capital and funds.

The firm favours a holistic over a siloed approach to non-contentious and contentious work, operating as a single, multidisciplinary team. Lawyers that focus on patent licensing and transactions work hand-in-hand with litigators—a set-up appreciated by clients for the 360-degree perspective on their business, and attractive to new talent for the broader experience they gain.

Stephenson Harwood has a wealth of experience in devising and managing multi-jurisdictional patent enforcement and revocation matters, including in relation to the Unified Patent Court (UPC), and regularly co-ordinates global enforcement campaigns. The firm has been instructed by a number of new clients in the past year in relation to patent disputes concerning cutting-edge technologies such as gene editing.

Team overview:

Alexandra Pygall, head of IP and head of Life Sciences & Healthcare, leads the patents team. A peer describes her as “commercially focused” and appreciates her “excellent strategic counsel and advice”.

London partner Naomi Leach has a strong commercial practice with particular expertise in relation to transactional IP matters, and is consistently called on by clients for guidance with complex patent licensing and collaboration agreements.

The firm boosted its patent litigation capabilities with the appointment of partner Helen Conlan at the end of 2023. Formerly at Bird & Bird and then Mishcon de Reya, Conlan is described by an industry peer as being “at the forefront of how AI will reshape patent practice” and recognised for her commercial acumen, responsiveness, and results-driven approach which “helped avoid costly disputes and unlocked value-add licensing opportunities”.

Key matters:

• Joint venture buyout—Armacell International

The team acted for Armacell, which manufactures and supplies industrial foams and flexible insulation materials, in its buyout of Armacall JIOS Aerogels (AJA)—a joint venture between Armacell and JIOS Aerogels.

The matter involved the re-negotiation of a licence from JIOS to AJA, under which AJA is licensed to use certain patented technology owned by JIOS for the production of aerogel blankets.  A cross-practice, multi-jurisdictional team from Stephenson Harwood advised on the transaction, with IP advice provided by partner Alexandra Pygall in London.

• IP advice and patent/know-how licensing agreements—GroundTruth Global

Stephen Harwood advises GroundTruth on the IP protection of its technology, particularly via patent protection, as well as in relation to its patent and know-how licensing agreements with third parties.

Key team members for the client are partner Alexandra Pygall, and associates Ainsleigh Stone and Annabelle Klimt.

• Acquisition of biopharmaceutical company—Dr Falk Pharma

The firm acted for Dr Falk Pharma (a German family-owned, multi-national, pharmaceutical company business) on its successful acquisition of Kynos Therapeutics, a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company focusing on the development of novel treatments for patients suffering from acute and chronic inflammatory diseases.

The team advised on all aspects of the transaction, such as the drafting and negotiation of acquisition and related transaction documents, including a patent assignment and licence agreement and a further licence agreement. This involved extensive collaboration across a number of the firm’s specialist teams.

Stephenson Harwood’s team included partners Alexandra Pygall, Kristian Shearsby and associate Alice Routh.

Clients:

Armacell International, BenevolentAI, Bicycle Therapeutics, BioNTech, BXT Accelyon, Dr Falk Pharma, The Dr Wolff Group, Duracell Group, GroundTruth Global, Haleon, Johnson & Johnson, MFS Africa, NL Holdings (Niki Lauda Family Trust), Novacyt, Oxford Biomedica, The People’s Partnership, Perfetti van Melle, Shield Therapeutics, Stochastic, UCB and UCB Ventures